AboutBill Hutson Expertise Founder and President of Table Talk Foundation for Better Living Inc.
a non-profit organization aimed at making free home repairs for the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.
I have extensive expertise pertaining to cost effective rehabilitation and repair in older homes as well as all phases of newer residential construction.
Experience Remodel and rehab contractor from 1979 to 1993 specializing in restaurant remodel and home restoration.
Jobsite troubleshooter assisting residential contractors through KA Components, Mid America Truss, and Kerkhoff Associates from 1993 until 2002. Contractors' consultant 1990 to present. Used as a construction expert in the local court system. Registered contractor with The Fedral Government, FEMA and several insurance companies. Master Carpenter at Table Talk Ministries a non-profit organization aimed at making free home repairs for those who could not ohterwise afford to have them done.
Organizations Table Talk Foundation for Better Living Inc.
www.tabletalkministries.org
Founder/President.
Publications Features have been published in
Fleet Owner's Magazine,
Trucker's News Magazine,
The Daily Clintonian Newspaper,
The Hoosier Topics Newspaper, and The Banner Graphic Newspaper several times.
We have also done features on WKJK and WREB radio stations.
WXIN 59 Indianapolis,
WTHI 10 Terre Haute
Education/Credentials Northwestern State University
Awards and Honors "Make a Difference Award" from
WTHI channel 10 in Terre Haute Indiana.
We have recently received the Fueling Good prize from Citgo where we won free gas for a year,
that will help us in our efforts to make homes warm, safe and dry for our elderly and disabled neighbors.
We were recently featured on WXIN 59 in Indianapolis on their "Paying it Forward" segment, mainly because I pay for 90% of the repairs that Table Talk makes from my own pocket.
Past/Present Clients We focus our attention to the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.
We are receiving clients from 1 Federal and 5 State Agencies,
9 different public and private organizations plus multiple churches and hospitals.
Question I purchased an end-unit townhome about 2 months ago. During the inspection (and before it), we noticed some "bubbling" in some places on the detached side of the home (front is brick, back is fine). A contractor was hired by the seller, and he fixed those areas.
We thought it was under control. Wrong. After 2 months in the home, there are new spots popping up like this.
While out mowing the lawn yesterday, I noticed a contractor repairing some siding on another house that was selling (go figure). Apparently these homes, although well built otherwise (apparently), the siding was haphazardly installed. The builder used very few nails and often times missed studs. The contractor demonstrated this for me.
The fix seems very easy. Detach the siding, pull out loose nails, renail into studs, but not too tight. However, these homes are three stories.. so very high. I'm pretty handy, but would likely need to rent a scissor lift in order to get to the very top.
I had two contractors look at it. One said it was a pretty bad issue and said I should get it all re-nailed. His approximation was $1500. I had a second contractor who said he'd let it ride for now, and formally quoted me at $1350.
What are my options here? Its an eyesore, but should I let it ride? Should I hire a contractor to fix those trouble areas... or have them re-nail the entire side? Any idea what the costs should be on this? The side of the home is 35'.
Answer Jason,
If you'll look at the siding during different air temperatures, you will see this bubbling change, this is due to the fact that the vinyl expands and contracts with the temperature change.
That is why it is not nailed tight to the wall.
Usually what happens is, the contractor is in a hurry and nails a few too tight or too loose.
If it's too tight it can't move and bubbles, if it's too loose, you may not notice anything visibly, but, I repaired one last year that was loose and got partially sucked off the home during a thunderstorm.
Now,
what should you do?
I have seen very few buildings with a large area of siding like yours that do not have any bubbles at all. Just due to the size of the area and improbability the all the siding will "move" in unison.
I would tend to agree with the second estimate, let it go, I would hate to see you spend money for an outcome that will likely be the same as you have now.
On the other side of that coin, if you have a warranty, and you should, I would make the seller fix it, until you get the look you want.
